Lions’ Schwartz credits Smith for turnover-less streak

The 49ers haven’t committed a turnover in six straight regular-season games, which is a testament to their discipline, coaching and, above anything else, their quarterback.

At least that was the first area Lions coach Jim Schwartz highlighted when asked about San Francisco’s 26-quarter streak without a turnover. During that span, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith has thrown a franchise-record 185 passes without an interception.

“You’ve got to have a really smart quarterback to do it and Alex Smith is definitely a smart quarterback,” Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. “… He does a very good job of taking care of the football, which is extremely important, obviously. “

In contrast, Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford got of to a rocky start in the Lions’ come-from-behind 27-23 home win over the Rams last week. Stafford threw three interceptions in a span of 13 passes in the first half.

The Lions still won despite losing the turnover battle, 3-0. Last year, teams that committed three turnovers in a game went 12-49. Schwartz acknowledged the same season-opening recipe is unlikely to result in victory against the 49ers.

“For us to play well we’re going to have to protect the ball on offense we can’t afford three turnovers again,” Schwartz said. “And we’re also going to find ways to get them.”

The 49ers can tie the 2010 Patriots for the most regular-season games without a turnover with an error-free game against the Lions.

** Perhaps Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh can bond Sunday night over their ability to shut down questions about The Handshake. Similar to his coaching peer, Schwartz dismissed the inevitable question about last year’s run-in with Harbaugh.

The question was saved for the end of the 15-minute conference call.

“We’ve all moved on from that,” Schwartz said. “We’ve addressed that enough. The focus is on the 49ers. Anything that happened last year in the game, anything else, doesn’t have any bearing at all on this game …

“I understand you guys are interested and everything else, but the only way to move on is to move on. And if both of us, if we keep brining it up, and addressing it, and doing all those things, then nobody moves on from it. We’ve moved on. It was last year. And I think I’ve commented enough.”